System, method and computer program for enabling an interactive game

Abstract

A system, method and computer program enable an interactive game. A game server, in response to a user request, provides a unique identifier associated with an instance of the interactive game. The game server forwards one or more invitations to join the interactive game in accordance with the user request. Thereafter, the game server registers one or more wireless communication devices to be used as data controllers for use by participants that join the game.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory storing instructions that are executable by the processor to perform operations comprising:
 sending content of a first channel to a display device; 
 receiving a callback address from a game server; 
 sending an image that corresponds to the callback address to the display device; 
 storing information associated with the first channel when the image is sent to the display device; 
 sending content associated with a game to the display device; and 
 sending the content of the first channel to the display device based on the stored information associated with the first channel. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content associated with the game includes a game setup menu, and wherein the operations further comprise sending the content of the first channel based on the stored information after the game setup menu terminates. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise sending content of a second channel associated with the game to the display device. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise sending an identifier and information regarding a controller useable to participate in the game to the game server. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a network interface coupled to a first network, wherein the identifier enables a player to join the game via a second network that is different from the first network. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving the identifier from each of a plurality of players, and sending commands associated with the game received from each of the plurality of players to the game server. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving, from the game server, visual representation data associated with the game. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a network interface configured to communicate with at least one controller via a short-range radio-frequency link. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a network interface configured to receive game commands associated with play of a particular game from a wireless phone. 
     
     
       10. A method comprising:
 receiving, at a game server, first commands from a set top box via a first network, wherein the set top box is located at a first location and wherein the first commands are associated with a game instance of a particular game; 
 receiving, via a second network that is different from the first network, second commands associated with the game instance from a wireless device that is located at a second location that is remote from the first location; 
 receiving a first request at the game server to pause the game instance; 
 receiving a second request at the game server to resume the game instance when the wireless device has relocated from the second location to the first location; 
 resuming the game instance at the game server; and 
 after resuming the game instance, receiving the first commands from the set top box and third commands from the wireless device via the first network. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising sending visual representation data associated with the game instance to the set top box. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the set top box sends visual representations based on the visual representation data to a display device of the wireless device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising sending images of control features of the game instance to the wireless device. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising sending image data corresponding to control features of the game instance to the set top box via the first network. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising storing an identifier associated with the wireless device to enable the wireless device to continue sending commands associated with the game instance after the game instance is resumed. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second network comprises a radio frequency network. 
     
     
       17. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions executable by a processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a request via a first network for a game instance, the request received from a set top box, wherein the request includes first identification information associated with a first player collocated with the set top box and second identification information of a wireless device associated with a second player remotely located from the set top box; 
 starting the game instance; 
 receiving commands associated with the game instance from a controller of the first player via the first network; 
 receiving commands associated with the game instance from the wireless device via a second network that is different than the first network; 
 detecting an interruption of the game instance; 
 retrieving information identifying an alternative controller associated with a particular game player; and 
 resuming the interrupted game instance based on the retrieved information. 
 
     
     
       18. The computer-readable storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise retrieving second information associated with an alternative connectivity configuration associated with the particular game player and resuming the interrupted game instance further based on the second information. 
     
     
       19. The computer-readable storage device of  claim 17 , the operations further comprising sending an identifier of the game instance to the set top box via the first network. 
     
     
       20. The computer-readable storage device of  claim 19 , the operations further comprising sending an invite to join the game instance to the wireless device associated with the second player, wherein the invite includes the identifier.